Refrigerator cabinet shelf



Feb.'7, 1933. 'J. L.'. KNIGHT REFRIGERATOR. CABINET -SHELF Fild Sept. 29, 1930 FLg. 3.

Fig, 2.

- Invntor- James L. Kni.

E-l-M l ght g Hips Attorney.

Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED ST TES PATENT oar-I ca TAKES I. KNIGHT, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOE T GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A COBIORA'IION OF NEW .YORK

REFRIGERATOR CABINET SHELF I Application fled September 29, 1930. Serial 1T0. 484,951.

My invention relates to refrigerator cabinet shelves. p The shelves of refrigerators as generally constructed are often completely covered- 6 with articles thereby preventing the free circulation of air in the cabinet. This causes an undesirably high temperature in the portion of the cabinet in which the circulation of air is cut off, as the transfer of heat from the space within the cabinet to the cooling unit takes place by aircirculating in the cabinet being cooled 1n assing over the cooling unit and'then absorblng the heat from the articles within the cabinet when it passes over them. Cutting off of the circulation of air in cabinets has been particularly troublesome when fish were stored in a refrigerator of this kind,

as they come in close contact with the inside walls of the cabinet and form an air seal which prevents the circulation of air in the cabinet over the shelves and the cooling unit.

The object of my invention is to provide an arrangement to prevent fish or other articles on the shelves from coming in contact with the inside walls of the cabinet andentirely covering the shelves so that free circulation of air in the refri erator is maintained. I accomplish this ob]ect by providing a refrigerator cabinet with shelves including spacers which extend about the inner walls of the refrigerator, so as to form a passage for the 2 is an enlarged perspective of the various parts of my improved shelf, and Fig. 3 is a partial elevation in section showing the details of the spacer construction and the arrangement of parts in the cabinet.

Referring to the drawing I have shown a refrigerator cabinet 10 provided with a re,

frigeratin s stem of a type similar to that described 1n teenstrup Patent No. 1,736,635,

including cooling'units 11 arranged, in the cabinet.

In accordance with my invention the refrigerator cabinet is provided with a shelf construction which prevents articles laced in the cabinet entirely coverin the s elves so as to cut off the circulation of air between the shelves and the cooling unit. The shelves 12 and 13 closely fit the cabinet and include a rectangular frame 14 and longitudinally extending bars 1 5 welded or otherwise connected thereto constituting ,an article supporting grid. In the particular construction illustrated shelves 12 of an open framework, are supported in the cabinet on abutments 16 extending from the wall of-the cabinet,,and

the shelf 13 is provided with legs 17 which rest on the bottom wall of the cabinet so that aircan circulate freely under the shelf.

Vertically extending spacers are provided between the shelves, extending about their periphery so as to prevent articles thereon entirely covering the shelves and thereby cutting off the circulation ofair in the cabinet. A spacer is not placed above the uppermost shelf in a refrigerator construction like the one illustrated, as drip pans are generally retained thereon below the evaporators, but if it is desired spacers can also be placed here. These spacers include a wire network form- I ing a grating 18 extending between a rod frame '19. The frame 19 is formed with outwardly projecting portions. 20, which include in the particular embodiment illustrated, the vertical portions of the frame 19 bent outwardlyvas shown in Fig. 2 and other rods 20 welded to the frame 19 to maintain the grating in spaced relationto the inner -walls of the cabinet and to prevent excessive bulging of the network and frame when the shelf is full. 'These'vertically extending spacers are made in two similar sections each to facilitate handling and shipping and to readily permit their adjustmen-tif theydo not make a good fit within the cabinet by merely bending the ends of the frame in or out to make it smaller or larger as required. They are supported in position by resting their lower edges on the shelves and are not intended to be a direct sup ort for the tray above them although they mig t also be made to serve this purpose, if

I desired.

5 As can readily be seen from the drawing, this combination provides a construction which prevents articles on the shelf from coming in contact with the walls of the cabinet and entirely covering the shelf, the

spacers providing a space all around the sides and under the bottom where the air will be able to circulate freely between the shelves and the inner wallsof the cabinet and insure the proper cooling of articles stored therein. There might be a-tendency for dirt M to accumulate between the spacers and the walls and to this 'end the spacers and the shelves are constructed so as to bereadily removable by merely lifting them out for cleanin of the cabinet and the shelf structure.

odifications of my invention, which I have illustrated and described, will occur to those skilled in the art. I desire it to be imderstood, therefore, that my invention is not to be limited to the particular arran ement disclosed, and I intend in the appen ed claim to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention. What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, of the United States is: In combination, a plurality of shelves, means for'supporting said shelves in a cabinet in spaced relation to each other, said means including vertically extending s acers formed of a network arranged about t e periphery of said shelves and their lower edges resting on the shelves above which they extend, said spacers having outwardly'extending portions for maintaining said network in spaced relation with the inner walls of the cabinet, so as to prevent articles on the shelves from entirely covering the same and cutting ofl the circualtion of air within the cabinet. J In witness whereofv-I have hereunto set my hand'this 27th day of Se tember, 1930. J SL.KNIGHT. 

